Last Wednesday, we told you our quick take on Juno Baby's line of educational entertainment products for kids (the long and short: cute, cool, and engaging). Adam Adleman, one of the founders of Juno Baby, took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to answer some questions: ...

Tonight you can see a free performance of Rigoletto broadcast live both on the civic center plaza and in the Frost Amphitheater at Stanford, starting at 8pm. ...

This week's offerings represent the Bay Area's diversity. If that's too PC for you, go for the ones with a touch of taboo....

Getting ready for Tuesday's election? Study up on our handy-dandy chart of the gubernatorial candidates or our five-second summary of all the state and San Francisco propositions. Or pick sides in Ma v. Ja! And if your favorite candidate loses, well, he or she can always become a filmmaker instead. Free free free! A free Madame Butterfly performance, free We Are Scientists tickets, free readings, a free baseball, free stuff on Craigslist, and free......

The atmosphere knob was turned all the way to "party" Saturday night at the Civic Center. We stopped by at the Madame Butterfly simulcast 15 minutes before tip-off, and found the square full of a joyful crowd. Where a few saw a half-empty glass of cool, windy weather and stayed home, quite many -- by the opera's count, there were 8,000 people -- saw an opportunity: no need to bring ice to chill the chardonnay.......

If you ever wished to stand up and stretch, or God forbid, leave, in the middle of attending an opera, the SF Opera is there for you. They don't provide you with concerts you want to run away from, but with a bunch of casual opportunities to appreciate the lyrical arts al fresco. They have a concert in Stern Grove (July 30th), they have the annual Opera in the Park in Sharon Meadows in......